Nunn better: Opening night worth $150,000
Kendrick Nunn emerged as an offseason revelation for the Heat.
MIAMI The value of Kendrick Nunn’s opening-night uniform? An argument could be made that it is priceless, considering it is the first time wearing an NBA jersey in a regular-season game.
The reality is that the experience is worth $150,000, with the appearance on the Miami Heat opening-night roster triggering that guarantee.
As part of the contract he signed with the Heat on the final day of last season, Nunn received $150,000 of his contract guarantee if on the roster on Aug. 1, which was the case after his breakout performance during summer league. The guarantee for the 6-foot-2 guard then was elevated to $300,000 if on the opening-night roster. There then will be another $150,000 guarantee if on the roster on Dec. 1.
The remainder of Nunn’s $1.4 million 2019-20 salary will guarantee if he is on the roster on
Jan. 10, the date when all NBA contracts are guaranteed for the season.
The only other contract, beyond the Heat’s two two-way contracts, already not fully guaranteed for the season is Duncan Robinson’s $1.4 million salary, with $1 million of that figure already guaranteed and the rest due at the Jan. 10 deadline.
Because of the Heat’s position against the hard cap, the waiving of either Nunn or Robinson would not free up enough salary to sign a replacement player. Because of that, Nunn essentially is already guaranteed his full 2019-20 salary.
Because he was not with the Heat last season and did not play for the Golden State Warriors while spending 2018-19 with their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, Nunn is classified as a rookie by the NBA, eligible for All-Rookie, Rookie of the Month and similar recognition this season. He went undrafted out of Oakland University in 2018.